Philippines records 700 aftershocks after earthquake Friday

The Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Monday it has recorded 700 aftershocks after a 5.2 magnitude earthquake shook central Philippines Friday, according to local television network ABS-CBN News.

Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum said the tremors were caused by movement on the Lubang Fault in maritime area in central Philippines. He said more aftershocks could be felt in Marinduque, Mindoro and southern Batangas in coming days, although the tremor is decreasing.

"The public should not be scared about the earthquakes because these are less than magnitude 6, mostly magnitude 5 or less, which cannot destroy buildings," he said.

Phivolcs recorded a 5.2 magnitude earthquake Friday night, with the epicenter located offshore between Mindoro province and Boac, Marinduque in central Philippines.

Saturday, seismologists said they recorded three minor aftershocks, while another earthquake was felt Sunday dawn in Metro Manila and southern Luzon with a 3.7 magnitude and its epicenter located 31 kilometers southeast of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.

About 10 quakes hit the Philippines every day in average, as the country is located on the "Ring of Fire" of volcanic islands along the western rim of the Pacific Ocean that sit on unstable earth plates and are prone to earthquakes.

However, most of the quakes are so small in magnitude that they are rarely felt.

Over the past 30 years, only three major, destructive quakes took place in the Philippines.

Source: Xinhua